Update on the Melamine in Infant Formula Situation

The FDA was quick to assure parentsthat the quantities found in the US samples were minute compared tothe quantities found in the Chinese formulas and that, contrary tothe foreign formula, where the Melamine had been intentionallyintroduced, in the American formula the melamine presence wasaccidental.

Melamine is present in American foodsbecause it can legally be used in product packaging and can be foundin a solution used to clean manufacturing equipment. Exposure to veryhigh doses of melamine can cause kidney stones and in extreme casescan lead to kidney failure.

According to the FDA, the risk ofswitching formulas or trying to create homemade formula is muchhigher than feeding an infant formula with trace elements ofmelamine. Unconvinced parents flooded the switchboards of the threemain formula manufacturers, demanding to know what was safe and whatthey should do.

Friday, November 28, by setting amelamine in formula threshold of 1 part per million, the FDA finallymade a decision that should appease many of these worried parents.According to the FDA, 1 part per million is safe as long as nocyanuric acid is present at the same time. So far test results haveshown that the US formulas contain 0.14 to 0.25 parts per millionMelamine or its byproduct cyanuric acid, but that none of the samplescontain the high risk combination of both chemicals; the formulas areall deemed safe.

Parents can rest easy; formula is notbeing recalled and babies are not in danger. And while breastfeedingis still clearly the best way to feed an infant, parents who areunable to do so for any reason should not worry that they arepoisoning their babies by resorting to mass manufactured formula.